Young talent to get break at Azlan Shah

After the highs of 2003, this year could prove to be a downer for Indian hockey unless the men’s team win a major title — either t...

After the highs of 2003, this year could prove to be a downer for Indian hockey unless the men’s team win a major title — either the qualifying tournament for the Olympics, the main event in Athens or, later, the Champions Trophy.

So the Azlan Shah Trophy, which begins in Kuala Lumpur next week, is seen by the IHF as a stepping stone in the long journey. And a necessary one, too, because the two top teams participating — world champions Germany and runners-up Australia — have already qualified for the Olympics, and have also finalised their teams for Athens. Spain will be playing their first major tournament after a lengthy absence.

India’s Asian rivals Pakistan are currently in the process of testing new ground — they’ve just acquired a foreign coach, Dutchman Roelant Oltmans.

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India’s priority before the qualifiers is to try as many promising newcomers — the substitute slots are up for grabs as nine players from the 2001 Junior World Cup squad have proved themselves as the mainstay of the team.

The Indian team announced today for the Azlan Shah comprises, but for Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Dhillon, those newcomers in a bid to find the best mix for the qualifying tourney in March.

Interestingly, there are three drag-flickers in the team, including veteran Dhillon. He has become the third choice for the specialist slot after his impressive display with the drag-push in the domestic season, along with Len Ayyappa and young Sandeep Singh.

India have won the Azlan Shah thrice but this time the results in the tournament should not matter as the aim of the think-tank would be to spot players who can tackle the pressure of performing against top-class oppositions in back-to-back matches.

The Azlan Shah squad

Goalkeepers:

Kamaldeep Singh, Adrian D’Souza

Fullbacks: Harpal Singh, William Xalxo, Sandeep Singh

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Midfielders: Vikram Pillay, Ignace Tirkey, Len Ayyappa, Prabhdeep Singh VS Vinay and Girish Pimpale

Forwards: Dhanraj Pillay, Baljeet Dhillon, Sandeep Michael, Tushar Khandekar Arjun Halappa, Hari Prasad and Rajpal Singh. Coahces: Harendra Singh, Clarence Lobo, Ramandeep Singh, AB Subbaiah

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